Valle de Bravo

We arrived to a not so sunny Mexican day.
Again we are enjoying Chago's wonderful hospitality at his marina, Embarcadero Las Olas del Valle. We are camped lake side with great views across the lake.  19.225761, -100.139022 

15 minutes after arriving, the hail cut lose.

20 minutes later all is white.

Ruth and Sue drawing 2020 in the snow.

Fatima having fun.

24 hours later at happy hour playing the ever popular Left, Right, Center.

A couple of boats returning from a day of fun

A walk through town and up the hill takes you to The Carmel Maranatha house. It began to function as a house to prayer in 1985. Its purpose is to offer a space to favor personal and God encounter through silence and spiritual retirement. 19.226737, -100.125695

Sue and Roy

The buildings and grounds are magnificent.

Zitacuaro

We headed into Zitacuaro to see the town and stock up on supplies. It is a large administrative center with 185,000 plus residents.

Beautiful murals in the central plaza

It was Sunday and families were enjoying a day out. The kids were racing around in rented electric cars.

From the Plaza we headed over the market.

Which is your favorite chile?

The market was large and very busy

Roger, Mona, Roy, and Sue sampling the different kinds of nuts

This looked like different type of dried/candied fruits

Zitacuaro is known for its delicious breads

I bought some nice vegetables and a kilo of fresh shrimp. Sue had some New Orleans BBQ Shrimp sauce that she cooked the shrimp in.

Sue and Roy. The dinner was delicious. Thank you Sue.

To the Butterflies

Saturday under clear blue skies  our van departed for the Rosario Monarch Butterfly Preserve. We had great hopes that warm sunny weather would encourage the butterflies to take flight.

Country side along the way

It is tight going, but it is possible to drive your motorhome up to the preserve.

Very common family transportation in Mexico

Rosario is the most popular preserve as evidenced by a parking lot full of buses. Realize that these buses made up the street pictured above.

We began your climb passing through a gauntlet of shops

Entrance fee 50 pesos  19.588185  -100.267600

And we begin an arduous 2km climb to 10,000 feet elevation.

So you don't lose you tour guide

You can ride up and back for 200 pesos 

These amazing little creatures that flew all the way from eastern Canada blanket the trees in such numbers that they cause the branches to droop

Our hopes for sunny weather were not realized. It was cool and overcast when we arrived. The Monarchs huddled together for warmth.

A few brave soles had left the warmth of the trees.

Santa Clara del Cobre

Santa Clara del Cobre is a colonial town of 13,000 people, most of whom work in Santa Clara's copper trade. Copper has been worked in this area since before the Spanish arrived.

We visited Rafael's shop

Rafael explaining how the copper wares are created. 

This shop is for demonstration purposes only. His production shop is nearby.

Aron, aka free labor, pounding out a sheet of hot copper

Interesting items in the shop

Rafael showing us the color red hot copper turns when it is quenched in cold water.

Rafael began leaning his craft at 5, pumping the bellows for the father and grandfather.

Today two sons and one 12 year old grandson are following in his footsteps.

Long hours of hammering will create a finished surface.

Every thing in town is made from copper

Another great lunch

Kevin found this highly rated gordita place online.

Denise, Bob, Sue and Roy.

There was no exterior sign to let you know there was a great eatery here.

A German couple that were in our campground last night.

Yes, they have been everywhere. 

The map on the rear indicates they are heading to South America.

There were some great pieces in the museum

This award wining pitcher took 3.5 months to create.